Absent but omnipresent, Chavez a powerful symbol

By IAN JAMES, Associated Press
| 12:33 p.m.Jan. 24, 2013

A photograph of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, left, flanks one of Jesus Christ, held by a Chavez supporter at a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. The cult of personality that Chavez long nurtured has been flourishing like never before as he confronts an increasingly difficult struggle against the mysterious cancer that afflicts him. The connections between Chavez and Jesus are surfacing more often, having begun with Chavez himself praying to God on television, and repeatedly kissing a crucifix. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
— AP

A photograph of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, left, flanks one of Jesus Christ, held by a Chavez supporter at a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. The cult of personality that Chavez long nurtured has been flourishing like never before as he confronts an increasingly difficult struggle against the mysterious cancer that afflicts him. The connections between Chavez and Jesus are surfacing more often, having begun with Chavez himself praying to God on television, and repeatedly kissing a crucifix. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
/ AP

A supporter of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez holds poster of him with the slogan in Spanish "We are all Chavez!" at rally by Chavez supporters in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. The cult of personality that Chavez long nurtured has been flourishing like never before as he confronts an increasingly difficult struggle against the mysterious cancer that afflicts him. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)— AP

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A supporter of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez holds poster of him with the slogan in Spanish "We are all Chavez!" at rally by Chavez supporters in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. The cult of personality that Chavez long nurtured has been flourishing like never before as he confronts an increasingly difficult struggle against the mysterious cancer that afflicts him. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
/ AP

Buttons of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez sit for sale on the sidelines of a pro-Chavez rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. The cult of personality that Chavez long nurtured has been flourishing like never before as he confronts an increasingly difficult struggle against the mysterious cancer that afflicts him. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)— AP

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Buttons of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez sit for sale on the sidelines of a pro-Chavez rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. The cult of personality that Chavez long nurtured has been flourishing like never before as he confronts an increasingly difficult struggle against the mysterious cancer that afflicts him. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
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In this Jan. 22, 2013 photo, a supporter of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez wears a T-shirt with the Chavez's name and the number one in Caracas, Venezuela. The cult of personality that Chavez long nurtured has been flourishing like never before as he confronts an increasingly difficult struggle against the mysterious cancer that afflicts him. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)— AP

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In this Jan. 22, 2013 photo, a supporter of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez wears a T-shirt with the Chavez's name and the number one in Caracas, Venezuela. The cult of personality that Chavez long nurtured has been flourishing like never before as he confronts an increasingly difficult struggle against the mysterious cancer that afflicts him. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
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Earrings decorated with images of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez covered in plastic wrappers are for sale on the sidelines of a rally by Chavez supporters in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. Filling the void of Chavez's 6-week absence following a fourth surgery in Cuba, the government has been churning out a steady stream of emotional images, slogans and Chavez sound bites that appear poised to solidify Chavez's legacy as a messianic savior of the poor. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)— AP

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Earrings decorated with images of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez covered in plastic wrappers are for sale on the sidelines of a rally by Chavez supporters in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. Filling the void of Chavez's 6-week absence following a fourth surgery in Cuba, the government has been churning out a steady stream of emotional images, slogans and Chavez sound bites that appear poised to solidify Chavez's legacy as a messianic savior of the poor. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
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A street vendor sells dolls of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez called "La Intumbable," or roughly "One who cannot be toppled" at a rally by Chavez supporters in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. The dolls have a weight at the bottom and when pushed, stand right back up. The cult of personality that Chavez long nurtured has been flourishing like never before as he confronts an increasingly difficult struggle against the mysterious cancer that afflicts him. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)— AP

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A street vendor sells dolls of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez called "La Intumbable," or roughly "One who cannot be toppled" at a rally by Chavez supporters in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. The dolls have a weight at the bottom and when pushed, stand right back up. The cult of personality that Chavez long nurtured has been flourishing like never before as he confronts an increasingly difficult struggle against the mysterious cancer that afflicts him. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
/ AP

A supporter of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez holds up a collage of images showing Chavez and a central image of the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus at a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. The cult of personality that Chavez long nurtured has been flourishing like never before as he confronts an increasingly difficult struggle against the mysterious cancer that afflicts him. The connections between Chavez and Jesus are surfacing more often, having begun with Chavez himself praying to God on television, and repeatedly kissing a crucifix. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)— AP

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A supporter of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez holds up a collage of images showing Chavez and a central image of the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus at a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. The cult of personality that Chavez long nurtured has been flourishing like never before as he confronts an increasingly difficult struggle against the mysterious cancer that afflicts him. The connections between Chavez and Jesus are surfacing more often, having begun with Chavez himself praying to God on television, and repeatedly kissing a crucifix. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
/ AP

Images of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez surround an image of Venezuela's independence hero Simon Bolivar, center left, as they are displayed for sale on the sidelines of a rally by Chavez supporters in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. The cult of personality that Chavez long nurtured has been flourishing like never before as he confronts an increasingly difficult struggle against the mysterious cancer that afflicts him. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)— AP

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Images of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez surround an image of Venezuela's independence hero Simon Bolivar, center left, as they are displayed for sale on the sidelines of a rally by Chavez supporters in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. The cult of personality that Chavez long nurtured has been flourishing like never before as he confronts an increasingly difficult struggle against the mysterious cancer that afflicts him. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
/ AP

A doll of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez is held up by a supporter during a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. The cult of personality that Chavez long nurtured has been flourishing like never before as he confronts an increasingly difficult struggle against the mysterious cancer that afflicts him. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)— AP

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A doll of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez is held up by a supporter during a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. The cult of personality that Chavez long nurtured has been flourishing like never before as he confronts an increasingly difficult struggle against the mysterious cancer that afflicts him. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
/ AP

In this Jan. 21, 2013 photo, a woman and children stop for a moment near a mural depicting Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez in Caracas, Venezuela. While Venezuela's sick president recuperates from surgery in Cuba, in Venezuela he is alive and well, at least in spirit. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)— AP

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In this Jan. 21, 2013 photo, a woman and children stop for a moment near a mural depicting Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez in Caracas, Venezuela. While Venezuela's sick president recuperates from surgery in Cuba, in Venezuela he is alive and well, at least in spirit. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
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A supporter of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez wears earrings decorated with Chavez's image at a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. The cult of personality that Chavez long nurtured has been flourishing like never before as he confronts an increasingly difficult struggle against the mysterious cancer that afflicts him. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)— AP

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A supporter of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez wears earrings decorated with Chavez's image at a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. The cult of personality that Chavez long nurtured has been flourishing like never before as he confronts an increasingly difficult struggle against the mysterious cancer that afflicts him. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
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In this Jan. 22, 2013 photo, a poster of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez covers the side of a trash container on the outskirts of Caracas, Venezuela. The cult of personality that Chavez long nurtured has been flourishing like never before as he confronts an increasingly difficult struggle against the mysterious cancer that afflicts him. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)— AP

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In this Jan. 22, 2013 photo, a poster of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez covers the side of a trash container on the outskirts of Caracas, Venezuela. The cult of personality that Chavez long nurtured has been flourishing like never before as he confronts an increasingly difficult struggle against the mysterious cancer that afflicts him. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
/ AP

A poster of Venezuela's Hugo Chavez lays against a chair on the top of a home's roof during a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. While Venezuela's sick president recuperates from surgery in Cuba, in Venezuela he is alive and well, at least in spirit. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)— AP

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A poster of Venezuela's Hugo Chavez lays against a chair on the top of a home's roof during a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. While Venezuela's sick president recuperates from surgery in Cuba, in Venezuela he is alive and well, at least in spirit. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
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Hugo Chavez souvenirs sit for sale during a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. Filling the void of Chavez's 6-week absence following a fourth surgery in Cuba, the government has been churning out a steady stream of emotional images, slogans and Chavez sound bites that appear poised to solidify Chavez's legacy as a messianic savior of the poor. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)— AP

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Hugo Chavez souvenirs sit for sale during a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. Filling the void of Chavez's 6-week absence following a fourth surgery in Cuba, the government has been churning out a steady stream of emotional images, slogans and Chavez sound bites that appear poised to solidify Chavez's legacy as a messianic savior of the poor. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
/ AP

A supporter of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez wears a hat decorated with his picture at a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. The cult of personality that Chavez long nurtured has been flourishing like never before as his supporters' devotion has intensified into a fervor that borders on deification. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)— AP

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A supporter of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez wears a hat decorated with his picture at a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. The cult of personality that Chavez long nurtured has been flourishing like never before as his supporters' devotion has intensified into a fervor that borders on deification. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
/ AP

Portraits of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez sit for sale along a street on the sidelines of a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. Many credit Chavez with easing their poverty and expanding public services. To them, it does not matter that Venezuela suffers from 20 percent inflation, that the oil-producing nation is often short on cooking oil and sugar, that it has one of the world's highest murder rates, and that the president will not divulge the details of his cancer. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)— AP

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Portraits of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez sit for sale along a street on the sidelines of a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. Many credit Chavez with easing their poverty and expanding public services. To them, it does not matter that Venezuela suffers from 20 percent inflation, that the oil-producing nation is often short on cooking oil and sugar, that it has one of the world's highest murder rates, and that the president will not divulge the details of his cancer. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
/ AP

A supporter of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez wears sunglasses decorated with the eyes of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez at a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. The cult of personality that Chavez long nurtured has been flourishing like never before as he confronts an increasingly difficult struggle against the mysterious cancer that afflicts him. The iconic eyes-only design sends a message that he is always watching and still with his adoring constituents. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)— AP

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A supporter of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez wears sunglasses decorated with the eyes of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez at a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. The cult of personality that Chavez long nurtured has been flourishing like never before as he confronts an increasingly difficult struggle against the mysterious cancer that afflicts him. The iconic eyes-only design sends a message that he is always watching and still with his adoring constituents. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
/ AP

In this Jan. 21, 2013 photo, a mural depicting Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez's eyes cover a wall in Caracas, Venezuela. Filling the void of Chavez's 6-week absence following a fourth surgery in Cuba, the government has been churning out a steady stream of emotional images, slogans and Chavez sound bites that appear poised to solidify Chavez's legacy as a messianic savior of the poor. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)— AP

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In this Jan. 21, 2013 photo, a mural depicting Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez's eyes cover a wall in Caracas, Venezuela. Filling the void of Chavez's 6-week absence following a fourth surgery in Cuba, the government has been churning out a steady stream of emotional images, slogans and Chavez sound bites that appear poised to solidify Chavez's legacy as a messianic savior of the poor. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
/ AP

In this Jan. 22, 2013 photo, a street artist's painting of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez sits for sale in Caracas, Venezuela. While Venezuela's sick president recuperates from surgery in Cuba, in Venezuela he is alive and well, at least in spirit. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)— AP

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In this Jan. 22, 2013 photo, a street artist's painting of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez sits for sale in Caracas, Venezuela. While Venezuela's sick president recuperates from surgery in Cuba, in Venezuela he is alive and well, at least in spirit. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
/ AP

CARACAS, Venezuela 
While Venezuela's sick president recuperates from surgery behind closed doors in Cuba, at home he is more visible than ever.

Iconic images of his eyes look out from murals lining the streets of Caracas, his portrait appears on T-shirts sported by followers, and on television he can be heard booming "I am a nation!"

Though still alive, Chavez is being inducted into a pantheon of deified legends such as Evita Peron and Ernesto "Che" Guevara.

The cult of personality that Chavez long nurtured has been flourishing with even greater force in his absence as he confronts an increasingly difficult struggle against the mysterious cancer that afflicts him.

One woman at a pro-government demonstration on Wednesday held a portrait photo of Chavez next to an image of Jesus. New murals showing only the president's eyes have appeared on city walls along with a new slogan, "I am Chavez."

The eyes-only design sends a message that he is always watching and still with his adoring constituents. Many credit him with easing their poverty and expanding public services. To them, it does not matter that Venezuela suffers from 20 percent inflation, that the oil-producing nation is often short on cooking oil and sugar, that it has one of the world's highest murder rates, that the president will not divulge the details of his cancer.

"I am Chavez!" his supporters yell at the rallies in his honor. "We're all Chavez!" the crowds shout in unison.

Filling the void of Chavez's 6-week absence following a fourth surgery in Cuba, the government has been churning out a steady stream of emotional images, slogans and Chavez sound bites that appear poised to solidify his legacy as a messianic savior of the poor.

In newspapers, the government has been running one ad showing a photo of the president superimposed on a mosaic of smiling faces of Venezuelans: Chavez men, Chavez women and Chavez children of all ages.

Juan Pablo Lupi, a Latin American literature scholar, sees parallels with the way Evita Peron became an enduring political symbol in Argentina, and the way "Che" became a revolutionary icon after his death. In the case of Chavez, he said, "this has been very well-staged, all this process of myth-making and appealing to the feelings and religious sentiment of the people. This is something that is quasi-religious."

Lupi, a Venezuelan associate professor at the University of California Santa Barbara, said he expects Chavismo to go on without Chavez. "The myth is already there, and all this has been very, very well-crafted."

Connections between Chavez and Jesus are surfacing more often, and Chavez has emphasized his faith during his illness by praying to God on television for more time and repeatedly kissing a crucifix.

In one television spot, a beaming Chavez hugs children while a singer croons: "Chavez is pure and noble love." And for block after block in downtown Caracas, lampposts are festooned with new banners showing a smiling, healthy Chavez with the words "We love you!"

Daisy Castillo, who studies law at a free university established by Chavez, joined Wednesday's demonstration, and says she, like many other Chavistas, is praying for him.

"There has never before been a president like our Comandante Chavez," she said.

Fidel Castro long tried to avoid the trappings of a cult of personality in Cuba, sharply limiting public presentations of his image. But there is plenty of precedent elsewhere for displays of presidential imagery, with leaders such as Saddam Hussein in Iraq, Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua and Kim Jong Il in North Korea - not to mention Mao Zedong and Josef Stalin.

In Venezuela, the relentless omnipresence of a missing leader is a way to reinforce his party, said Juan Carlos Bertorelli, creative director at a marketing company in Caracas that focuses on branding.

"Now that he's not here physically or in voice at this time, the people who are maintaining the structure of his party," he said, "are trying to maintain a presence that legitimizes them."